Panel for curtain walls



y 1, 1965 w. H. YAKE 3,182,764

PANEL FOR CURTAIN WALLS Filed May 5, 1961 %i V/M/A 9 2 1o INVENTOR. Y WlLLIAMJ-LYAKE, B

flu kw ATTORNEYS.

- AM i United States Patent Qhio Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 108,171 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to a panel for curtain walls. In the Wachsmann application entitled Modular Building Construction, Serial No. 808,659, filed April 24, 1959, now abandoned, there is disclosed and claimed a modular building construction characterized by the grid-like framework so arranged that the intersecting surfaces of the building, such as corner-s between walls, between floors and walls, and between ceilings and walls, come between elements of the framework so that the corners are entirely free of frame elements.

In the copending Wachsmann application, Serial No. 107,585 filed May 3, 1961, entitled Locking Device for Building Panels and the Like, and in the Yake copending application entitled Locking Device for Building Panels and the Like, Serial No. 107,396 filed May 3, 1961, there are disclosed locking devices for locking and clamping panels to either the inside or outside of such a grid-like framework. These locking devices are characterized by the fact that they can be made operative or inoperative by the use of a simple tool and that panels secured to either the inside or outside of the framework may be clamped or unclamped by inserting said tool from either side of the framework.

In the Blickensderfer application, entitled Metallic Structural Element, Serial No. 99,545, filed March 30, 1961, now Patent No. 3,122,224, there is disclosed a particular type of member of which the gridlike framework may be composed.

In the Wachsmann application, Serial No. 808,771 filed April 24, 1959, now Patent No. 3,065,831, there is disclosed a panel construction which may be secured to the Wachsmann modular grid, whether or not the Blickensdcrfer structural member is used, by means of either the Wachsmann or the Yake locking device.

The present invention relates to a panel which differs from the Wachsmann panel but which may be used in the same way as the Wachsmann panel in the modular grid construction to which all of the above mentioned applications relate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel which comprises basically a frame adapted to be clamped to the grid-like framework and which frame may serve as a window or door opening and the like but which may also serve as a curtain wall panel in that within the frame there may be mounted a glass panel or an insulating panel or any other desired material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a panel as outlined above which is simple and attractive in construction and which lends itself to use with the locking devices above described.

These and other objects of the invention which will be described in more detail hereinafter or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment.

Reference is made to the drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a panel frame.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the grid-like framework and a portion of a frame secured thereto.

3,182,764 Patented May 11, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 showing an insulating ma terial mounted in the frame;

Briefly, in the practice of the invention, there is provided a flat frame which is adapted to fit against the gridlike framework and provided with a depending skirt portion adapted to extend into the framework. The depending skirt-like portion is provided with an abutment adapted to be engaged by locking devices to secure the panel into engagement with the grid-like framework and to clamp it thereagainst. Gasket-s are provided between the panel frame and the grid-like framework to prevent ingress of moisture and means are provided for securing Within the frame a desired panel material.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the frame is shown in this instance as being square. It will be understood of course that it may have been desired rectangular or other configuration to fit the interstices of the grid-like framework. The frame may be constituted by an extruded shape, or a roll-formed section of heavy or light gauge sheet metal. In FIGURES 1 and 2 I have shown a frame of light gauge sheet metal wherein the outer face of the frame is indicated at 10, 11, 12 and 13. It will be understood that these members may be mitered and welded together at the corners or made of a single piece welded at one corner. The sheet metal is doubled back upon itself to provide double thicknesses as at 12a and 12b and 10a and 10b, and the skirt portion, consisting of the depending flanges 14, 15, 16, 17. The flanges 15 and 17 are slightly curled over at their ends to provide a seat for a gasket to be described hereinafter and the flanges 14 and 16 are provided with outwardly turned flanges 18 and 19 for engagement by the locking devices as will be described hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is indicated a fragment of a structural member as described in the Blickensderfer application above mentioned, comprising the two facing channel elements 20 and 21 connected in zig zag arrangement by the strut elements 22. The structural members composed of the elements 20, 21 and 22 will be disposed to correspond to structural members in a wall both horizontally and vertically and in floors and ceilings. Between the various horizontal and vertical structural elements there will be openings which may be rectangular or square and which in this instance will be assumed to be square. The frame of FIGURES 1 and 2 is of such size that it can be inserted into such an opening in the frameworkwith the skirt portion, or depending flanges entering into the framework and with the flanges 10a and 12a seated against either the member 20 or the member 21, depending upon whether the panel is to be placed on the inside or outside of the building. It will of course be understood that panels may be secured to both sides of the structural framework, ie both against the member 20 and the member 21. A rubber or rubberlike gasket 23 is disposed between the flange 11a and the member 20. The short inwardly depending flange 24 having the outward hook 25 described above retains the gasket 23 in position on the frame. Preferably, the gasket will be in the form of a continuous element having the cross-section shown in FIGURE 4 which may simply be snapped in place around the frame so that when the frame is positioned on the grid-like framework the gasket 23 will abut the member 20 or a corresponding element of the grid-like framework.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, there is shown a locking device generally indicated at 26, for a detailed description of which reference is made to the Yake application above identified. The locking device 26 can be operated by means of a key 27 from either side of the grid-like framework so as to occupy a locking position shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, or a position in which the member 26 is C2 substantially parallel to the member 2% to permit insertion and removal of a frame.

In the locking position shown, by operating the key 27 the member 26 can be moved toward the right in FIG- URES 3 and 4 so that by its engagement with the flange 28 of the frame, it draws the frame toward the member 20, exerting pressure on the gasket 23 so as to secure the frame in sealing condition into the framework.

It will be understood that one or more locking devices may operate on each element 11 to 13 of the frame and in the preferred embodiment there will be two such locking devices acting on each side of the frame. It will also be understood by reference, for example to FIGURE 4 that a similar frame can be secured below the member 20 and it will be secured and clamped by the other end of the locking member 26.

The frame as described above, when positioned in the grid-like framework, provides a finished appearance which may serve as a plain opening for ventilation or for a doorway. It may, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, be provided with a door member or window member which may be opened and closed, or it may simply be provided with a plain or decorative filling such as indicated at 38 in FIGURE 4. This may be a panel of insulating material or it may be a sandwich comprising insulating material within a covering of stainless steel, aluminum, or any desired material. It will be clear that a pane of glass which may be of the insulating type may also be held within the frame. For the purpose of holding a panel in the frame, a gasket of suitable material,

such as rubber or rubber-like material, will be provided as at 31, bearing against the flanges 10b, 12b, 11b and a corresponding flange on the element 13. The member 30 is then held in position by means of clip members 32 which may be secured, as shown in FIGURE 4, by means of screws 33. It will be understood that if the panel 30 is of glass, a rubber gasket or the like'will be provided between the panel and the clip 32 and the screws 34 will not be used. If the panel is of insulating material or wood or the like, the screws 34 may be used in securing the panel 39 in position.

It will be seen that there has been provided a panel frame for use in a modular building construction, which frame is highly versatile in that panels of any desired material or construction may be mounted in the frame without in any way affecting the mounting of the frame itself in the grid-like framework. It will be understood, therefore, that no limitations are to be implied other than those specifically set forth in the claims which follow.

The preferred form of construction having now been fully described, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a grid-like framework provided with clamping elements for panel frames, a rectangular panel frame, said panel frame comprising a flat face portion bearing against said framework on all four sides and having a skirt portion depending from said flat face portion substantially at right angles thereto on all four sides, and extending into said framework, said skirt portion having abutments engaged by said clamping elements within said framework to hold said panel frame assembled to said framework.

2. In combination with a grid-like framework provided with clamping elements for panel frames, a rectangular panel frame, said panel frame in cross-section having a flat face bearing against said framework on all four sides, and having a depending skirt portion disposed substantially centrally thereof and extending, substantially at right angles to said flat face on all four sides, into said framework, said skirt portion having an outwardly directed flange at its end opposite said flat face, engaged by said clamping elements within said framework to hold said panel frame assembled to said framework.

3. In combination with a grid-like framework provided with clamping elements for panel frames, a rectangular panel frame, said panel frame in cross-section having a flat face bearing against said framework on all four sides, and having a depending skirt portion disposed suhstantially centrally thereof and extending, substantially at right angles to said flat face on all four sides, into said framework, said skirt portion having an outwardly directed flange at its end opposite said flat face, engaged by said clamping elements to hold said panel frame assembled to said framework, said skirt portion having also an outwardly directed hook element adjacent the underside of said flat face, and a gasket surrounding said frame and disposed between the underside of said flat face and said hook element, whereby said frame is sealed with respect to said framework.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,392,130 1/46 Downes 189 -64 X FOREIGN PATENTS 641,974 8/50 Great Britain.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

C. D. ANGEL, RICHARD W. COOKE, Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A GRID-LIKE FRAMEWORK PROVIDED WITH CLAMPING ELEMENTS FOR PANEL FRAMES, A RECTANGULAR PANEL FRAME, SAID PANEL FRAME COMPRISING A FLAT FACE PORTION BEARING AGAINST SAID FRAMEWORK ON ALL FOUR SIDES AND HAVING A SKIRT PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID FLAT FACE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES THEREOF ON ALL FOUR SIDES, AND EXTENDING INTO SAID FRAMEWORK, SAID SKIRT PORTION HAVING ABUTMENTS ENGAGED BY SAID CLAMPING ELEMENTS WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK TO HOLD SAID PANEL FRAME ASSEMBLED TO SAID FRAMEWORK. 